Heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure

ABSTRACT

A heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure includes a base block providing a plurality of grooves at one side thereof, and a plurality of radiation fins each having a bottom edge thereof stamped to provide a plurality of folded portions and hook portions, the folded portions and hook portions of the radiation fins being inserted into the grooves of the base block and then embedded in or clamped to the base block.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior China Patent Application No. 201220148011.0, filed on Apr. 10, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention The present invention relates to heat sink technology and more particularly to a heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure, which comprises a base block with grooves at one side thereof, and radiation fins with folded portions and hook portions alternatively arranged at two opposite sides near the bottom edge thereof and affixed to the grooves of the base block by means of casting or squeezing technique.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Conventional heat sinks generally comprise a bottom block and a plurality of radiation fins. Some heat sinks have one or a number of heat pipes fitted into the bottom block thereof. With respect to joining between a bottom block and radiation fins, welding technology is normally employed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,776 discloses a method to joining radiation fins to a bottom block by inserting radiation fins in respective channels at the bottom block and then employing a stamping technique to affix the radiation fins to the bottom block.

According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,776, a number of parallel channels with an undercut profile and separated by intermediary ridges are provided at the main body (bottom block) of the heating or cooling body (heat sink) for the attachment of the ribs (radiation fins). The ribs (radiation fins) are inserted from the side into the channels by matching foot profiles and are pressed into place through deformation of the intermediary ridges. However, this design does not allow direct insertion of the ribs (radiation fins) into the channels in vertical direction, thus complicating the installation procedure and causing inconvenience.

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,262 discloses a heat sink. According to this design, thin-sheet fins are inserted in the grooves of the base plate and crimped from both sides by the inclined side faces formed by the plastic deformation of the concave portion at each of two opposite sides of each groove. This design simply provides a two-point clamping force to secure each thin-sheet fin. This clamping effect is not strong enough to secure the thin-sheet fins firmly. The thin-sheet fins may be not kept in flush after installation, or may be forced to vibrate or to fall from the base plate accidentally by an external force. Some other techniques are known to bend the bottom side of each radiation fin into a folded portion or angled portion before insertion into one respective groove at a base block, and then to affix inserted radiation fins to the base block by means of plastic deformation. However, the radiation fins may be tilted sideways when crimped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure, which keeps the radiation fins fixedly secured to the base block in a flush manner, avoiding vibration or falling.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure comprises a base block providing a plurality of grooves at one side thereof, and a plurality of radiation fins respectively mounted in the grooves of the base block. Each radiation fin has the bottom edge thereof stamped to provide a plurality of folded portions. The folded portions of each radiation fin are equally spaced along the bottom edge of the respective radiation fin and alternatively projecting in two opposite directions. Further, the folded portions of the radiation fins are inserted into the grooves of the base block, and then embedded in or clamped to the base block.

Each radiation fin further comprises a plurality of hook portions respectively disposed between each two adjacent folded portions of the respective radiation fin. The hook portions are embedded with the respective folded portions in the base block or clamped with the respective folded portions to the base block, enhancing the connection stability between the base block and the radiation fins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of one radiation fin for the heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of the radiation fin shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG. 3 when viewed from another angle.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view, in an enlarged scale, of a part of the present invention, illustrating radiation fins inserted into the respective grooves of the base block before fixation.

FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 5, illustrating the radiation fins integrally embedded in the base block.

FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 5, illustrating the radiation fins clamped to the base block.

FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing illustrating a first example of the arrangement of heat pipes in the bottom side of the base block according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing illustrating a second example of the arrangement of heat pipes in the bottom side of the base block according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing illustrating a third example of the arrangement of heat pipes in the bottom side of the base block according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing illustrating a fourth example of the arrangement of heat pipes in the bottom side of the base block according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing illustrating a fifth example of the arrangement of heat pipes in the bottom side of the base block according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic drawing illustrating a sixth example of the arrangement of heat pipes in the bottom side of the base block according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, a heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure in accordance with the present invention comprises a base block 1 and a plurality of radiation fins 2. The base block 1 provides a plurality of grooves 11 at one side (the top wall) thereof for the insertion of the radiation fins 2 respectively. Further, each radiation fin 2 has its bottom edge stamped to provide a plurality of folded portions 21 that are equally spaced along the bottom edge of the radiation fin and alternatively projecting in two opposite directions (see FIGS. 2-4). By means of the folded portions 21, the radiation fins 2 can be steadily positioned in the respective grooves 11 of the base block 1 (see FIG. 5), and then integrally embedded in (see FIG. 6) or clamped to (see FIG. 7) the base block 1 by means of casting or squeezing technique described below. After installation, the radiation fins 2 can be kept in flush, thus preventing loosening due to vibration.

As stated above, the folded portions 21 of each radiation fin 2 are equally spaced along the bottom edge of the radiation fin and alternatively projecting in two opposite directions. According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7, the folded portions 21 have an L-shaped profile and are disposed at the same elevation, each having an upward extension portion 211. Because the folded portions 21 are disposed at the same elevation and alternatively projecting in two opposite directions, the radiation fins 2 can stand up steadily in the respective grooves 11 of the base block 1 by means of the respective folded portions 21.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, each radiation fin 2 further provides a plurality of hook portions 22 respectively disposed between each two adjacent folded portions 21 at a relatively higher elevation than the folded portions 21 and alternatively projecting in two opposite directions. The hook portions 22 are integrally embedded with the folded portions 21 in the base block 1 or clamped with the folded portions 21 to the base block 1, enhancing the connection stability between the base block 1 and the radiation fins 2. The hook portions 22 can be shaped like a barb.

The radiation fins 2 are respectively stamped to provide a plurality of openings 221 at the same elevation. After formation of the openings 221, the hook portions 22 are simultaneously formed. Further, the hook portions 22 are obliquely upwardly extended from the respective bottom edges of the respective openings 221 in two opposite directions. When integrally embedded in or clamped to the grooves 11 of the base block 1, the hook portions 22 enhance the connection stability between the radiation fins 2 and the base block 1.

When employing casting technique, liquid aluminum is preferably selected for casting with the use of a mating mold. After the radiation fins 2 are respectively inserted into the grooves 11 of the base block 1 as shown in FIG. 5, liquid aluminum is poured in the mating mold to fill up the grooves 11 of the base block 1. After the liquid aluminum is cooled and cured, the folded portions 21 and hook portions 22 of the radiation fins 2 are integrally embedded in the base block 1 (see FIG. 6).

When employing squeezing technique, a punch of a stamping press is driven to stamp the base block 1 against the inserted part of each radiation fin 2, causing deformation of the two opposite sidewalls of each groove 11, and therefore the folded portions 21 and hook portions 22 of the radiation fins 2 are clamped to the base block 1 firmly (see FIG. 7).

Referring to FIGS. 8-13, one or a number of heat pipes 3 are tightly fitted into an opposite side (the bottom wall) of the base block 1. Thus, the base block 1, the radiation fins 2 and the heat pipes 3 constitute a heat sink. The heat pipes 3 are press-fitted into respective grooves at the bottom wall of the base block 1, each having a flat contact surface 31 exposed to the outside and kept in flush with the bottom wall of the base block 1.

Further, the heat pipes 33 can be straight pipes kept apart from one another in a parallel manner in the bottom wall of the base block 1 (see FIG. 8), or straight pipes abutted against one another in a parallel manner in the bottom wall of the base block 1 (see FIG. 9), or S-shaped pipes (or other curve-shaped pipes) kept apart from one another in a parallel manner in the bottom wall of the base block 1 (see FIGS. 10 and 12), or S-shaped pipes (or other curve-shaped pipes) abutted against one another in a parallel manner in the bottom wall of the base block 1 (see FIGS. 11 and 13). According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the heat pipes 3 are partially abutted against one another corresponding to the area for direct contact with a heat source (for example, CPU).

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure, comprising a base block having a plurality of grooves at one side thereof, and a plurality of radiation fins respectively mounted in said grooves of said base block, wherein each said radiation fin has a bottom edge thereof stamped to provide a plurality of folded portions, and the folded portions of said radiation fins are inserted into said grooves of said base block and then integrally embedded in or clamped to said base block.
 2. The heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folded portions of each said radiation fin are equally spaced along the bottom edge of the respective radiation fin and alternatively projecting in two opposite directions.
 3. The heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the folded portions of each said radiation fin have an L-shaped profile.
 4. The heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the folded portions of each said radiation fin are disposed at a same elevation.
 5. The heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said radiation fin further comprises a plurality of hook portions respectively disposed between each two adjacent folded portions of the respective radiation fin.
 6. The heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein said hook portions are shaped like a barb.
 7. The heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein each said radiation fin further comprises a plurality of openings; each said hook portion extends obliquely upwardly from one said opening.
 8. The heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folded portions of said radiation fins are integrally embedded in said grooves of said base block by casting liquid aluminum into said grooves.
 9. The heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folded portions of said radiation fins are inserted into said grooves of said base block and clamped to said base block by means of deforming two opposite sidewalls of each said groove of said base block.
 10. The heat sink radiation fin and base block mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base block has at least one heat pipe press-fitted therein. 